Alexia Thainara is eager to disrupt the local fans` excitement this Saturday night, aiming for a successful UFC debut by defeating Molly McCann at UFC London.
Nicknamed “Burguesinha,” Thainara was finishing a training session in Varginha, Brazil last Friday when she received a call. Her manager contacted team leader Marcelo Ribas to see if the Contender Series veteran was ready to accept a fight on short notice.
“Of course,” Ribas responded immediately. “She’s ready.”
Moments later, her manager called back to confirm the fight was official. Thainara had just two days to travel from Varginha to Sao Paulo and then embark on a lengthy flight to London, all while needing to cut seven pounds in just one week.
“We were already anticipating a significant fight because it had been seven months since the Contender Series,” Thainara told MMA Fighting. “This is a great fight, a challenging fight, and that’s because they recognize me as a tough fighter. I’m a well-rounded athlete, and they wouldn`t offer me an easy fight. This is a fight for us to deliver a show.”
Thainara secured a UFC contract by defeating her former teammate Rose Conceicao on the Contender Series, boosting her professional record to 11-1.
In contrast, the UFC London fight marks McCann’s 14th appearance in the octagon, with seven victories. “Meatball” McCann may have more experience, but Thainara believes she has the advantage in other aspects of the fight.
“[I will beat her] with my utmost effort, my determination, by being proactive, aggressive, and versatile,” Thainara stated. “I won’t allow her to utilize her boxing, which is her strongest skill. That’s essentially all she demonstrates in her fights.”
“And we have the jiu-jitsu expertise, right? Five consecutive submissions. Tap or sleep.”
Thainara had a successful streak in the Brazilian circuit before joining the UFC. Her five consecutive submissions occurred between 2021 and 2023, including two finishes within eight seconds. While her opponents at that time were not top-tier — both had a 0-1 professional record — “Burguesinha” views UFC London as her grand debut.
“I’m still relatively unknown in the UFC,” Thainara admitted. “But I’m confident this opportunity will make me known worldwide because not everyone accepts a fight with just seven days` notice. This truly demonstrates that our team is always prepared.”
